Driving-axle suspension for motor-vehicles.



No. 840,842. PATBNTBD IAN. 8, v1907;

' 1c. R.v GREUTBR. Y

DRIVING AXLE sUsPBNsIoN FOR MoToII VEHICLES.

' l APPLICATION FILED' 111:0.-29, 1905. RENBWBD N`0v.22, 1906.

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I a L( IVf UNITED .STATES PATENT 0F I (l E CHARLESR. GREUTER, O F HOLYOKE, MASSACIll'SE'lTS. ASSIUXOH T() MA'FHESON MOTCR CAR COMPANY, OF WlLKlS-BAHRE, PENNSYL- vANiA, A CORPORATION.

DRIVING-AXLE SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8', 1907.

Application led December 29, 1905. Renewed November 22, 1906. Serial No. 344,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. GREUTER,

To this endthe invention contemplates a simple and thoroughly practical construction of hanging means for both the axle carrying the driving-wheels of the motor-vehicle Aand the counter-shaft now usually termed in the motor-vehicle' art a jack-shaft, said shaft being driven from the engine and carryin the usual driving-sprockets from which the c ains extend to the driven sprockets on the rear axle. i- The improved hanging means include a novel type of bearing-hanger for the jack-shaft and provide means for main.- tainlng this shaft in its proper parallel position with thecrank-shaft of the engine, while at the same' -time permitting'jall the torsional movements of the running-gear frame to take place without imposing-strain on the' shaft. u Also the novel suspension or hanging ,meansfforthe rear axle and the jack-shaft include' means for positively maintainin thepredetermi ed distance between the Jack-shaft and thI rear axle, andat' the same time permitting of the adjustment of this distance-thatA is, the adyustment of the rear axlel toward and from the jack-shaft-whereby the wheel-base is vincreased or diminished, thus rendering it possible to shift the axle and give suficient slack in the chain to'permit the insertion or removal of the link thereof. Whilethese various objects are attained, the relation of the jack-shaft tothe engine -is maintained constant or invariable.

With these and other objects in' view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the saine consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.`

The leading features of the 'invention involved in carrying out the objects above indicated are necessarily susceptible to structural change without departing from the scopegLvof the invention, but av preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a plan view of one end portion of the .running-gear frame of a motor-vehicle, showing'the mounting and relation of the ject-shaft and rear axle and also apreferable position of the distance-rod, the sprocket and rear wheel being cut off. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the partsshown in Fig. 1, the

plane of section through thejack-shaft and,

axle being on the line 22 of Flg. 1,. Fig'. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the bear-in mounting on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. a detail view of the gimbal-jomt connection for the distance-rod'with the'parts separated.

Like references -designate corresponding parts in the several guresof the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention the Fig. 4 1sl `mechanical parts. comprising the improved sus ension or hanging means are associated wit the running-gear frame at opposite sides thereof to secure the necessary poses of the` application a'description o the construction atone side'of the frame will suffice. Y

'For purposes of illustration there is shown alancing, as well understood by those familiar with structures of this character, so for the ur in the drawings that portion of the runninggear frame l'with which is associated. the

rearv axle 2 and the rear driving-wheel 3 of a motor-vehicle. also associated the driven sprocket-wheel 4, connected in the usual manner with the wheel 3 to provide for transmitting the With these parts` is i power ofthe engine thereto for propelling i the vehicle. To provide for the spring sup'- port of these elements, the present invention contemplates the employment of a main subporting-sprin 5, preferably of the common semi-e iptic crm, and rigidly fastened ata central point 'between its ends tothe rear axle 2 through the medium of an axle clip or clamp 6, securely bolted to the rear axle, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The front and rear end portions of the semielliptic main supporting-spring 5 have a slid'- able and rotative' connection with the running-gear frame 1. At the rear end of` the main supporting-spring 5 this connection is provided for by pivotally bolting) the rear end of the spring, as at 7, to the olt-ear 8, pendent from the coupling-sleeve 9, slidably mounted upon the fixed guide-rod 10, arranged in parallel relation to the longitudinal plane of the frame 1 and bolted or otherwise rigidly secured, as at 11', in an eye proguide-rod 10.

yA similar construction is provided for the f vided at the outer end of a bracket-arm 13, turned out from the rear end of the frame 1 and constituting an en'd hanger for the rear mounting of the front end of the main supportin -spring 5, which end of said spring is pivota ly bolted at 13 to a coupling-sleeve 14, slidably 'mounted on a front guide-rod 15, arranged in the longitudinal plane of the rear rod 10 and held in offset parallel relation from the frame by being mounted at its ends in the oppositely-arranged arms 16 of a forked hanger-bracket 17, rigidly mounted upon one 'side of the runningear frame 1 a suitable distance in front of t e rear end of said frame.

A practical and preferable embodiment of' the invention, as plainly shown .in Fig. 3 of the drawings, resides in constructing the front hanger-bracket 17 of a casting which. has formed )therewith 'as an integral part,

. bearing-boxes.

The spherical bearing 2O may be ofthe ball-bearing of any improved .typewithout affectin@r the essential feature ofthe improvement, W 'ch consists in the bearing 20 being -so constructed and mounted as to always -rnaintain the j ack-shaft 21 in its pro er parallel position with the crank-shaft o the engine, while at the same time permitting of Vthe torsional movements of the running-gear frame to take lace without placing any .strain on the said) shaft.

While the preferable construction for hangingthe spherical bearing 20 has been delscribed, it will be understood that the bearing-hanger 18 may be made separate from the casting of the hanger-brac iet 17, and otherwise rigidly connected with the' frame without affecting the invention.

The predetermined dist-ance between the 4jack-shaft 21 and the rear axle 2 is maintained through the employment of a distance-rodl 2.3, provided with an adjusting turnbuckle 24. This distance-rod 23 has a pivotal connection 24a at its rear end to a clip, collarl or other equivalent fitting 25, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear axle 2, and at its front end the said distance-rod 23 has a gimbal or universal joint connection y27 to a rigid arm or frame member 28 pendent from and rigid lwith the. running-gear frame 1. Through the adjustment of the turnb'uckle 24 the rear axle can be moved in a direction toward or from the j ack-shaft. l This results in increasing or diminishingthe wheel-base and makes it possible to shift the rear axle to give suflicient slack in 'the chain to permit of the insertion or removal of a link thereof.

lAt the same time when the adjustment of the distance-rod has once been made such rod serves to maintain the proper distance ,between the j ack-shaft and the rear axle, and under all conditions the relation of the jackshaft of the engine in invariable.

inasmuch as the proper distance between the said jack-shaft and the rear axle is maintained by the distance-rod, it follows that the compression of the main spring 5 will result in a sliding movement of the sleeves 9 and 14 on the fixed uide-rods therefor. Further- `more, inasmuc as the said sleeves have a ro- IOO Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. In a driving-axle suspension for motorvehicles, the combination with the runninggear frame and the rear axle, of a main supporting-spring fastened to the axle and havlng slidable and rotative connections between its ends and the frame.

2. In a driving-'axle suspension for motorvehicles, the combination with the frame, the rear axle and j ack-shaft, of the main supporting-spring having slidable and rotative connections between its ends and the frame, a support forl the jack-shaft, and adjustable means for maintaining the distance between the rear axle and the jack-shaft.

3. In a driving-axle suspension for motprvehicles, the combination with the frame,'the wheel-axle, and the jack-shaft, a main supporting-spring having slidable connections etween its ends and the frame, a support #for the jack-shaft carried by the frame, and the distance-rod connection between the axle and the frame, said distance-rod connection embodying a universal `joint.

4,. In a driving-'eide vsuspension for motorvehieles, the combination with theframe, the Wheel-axle, and the jack-shaft, of a supporting-spring havingrslidable and Totative conneetionsl between its ends and the frame, a bearing-hanger carried by the frame, a roeking bearing mounted in said hanger and receiving the jaekfshaft, and an adjustable distance-rod having a pivotal connection at one end with the axle and a. gimbal-joint connection at its other end with the frame.

5. In a driving-axle suspension for motorvehicles, a frame carrying opposite longitudjnally-arrenged fixed guide-rods, a main supporting-spring fastened to the Wheel-axle and marrying at its ends coupling-sleeves slidably end rotatably engaging the opposite tion joint at one end with said nflembei1 and.

at its other end pivotally coupled to the wheel-axle.

CHARLES R. GREUTER. Witnesses:

'Wi/1. H. CHAPIN, K. l. CLEMONS. 

